ERIC Number: EJ893890
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0734-6670
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Using Technology in Undergraduate Admission: A Student Perspective
Lindbeck, Robin; Fodrey, Brian
Journal of College Admission, n208 p10-17 Sum 2010
The relationship that currently exists between undergraduate admission, technology and the Millennial generation continues to be an area of constant change. As technology trends come-and-go and resources continue to be limited, what are colleges and universities doing to ensure they are being as effective and efficient as possible when it comes to recruiting students through technological means or otherwise? Regardless, one thing remains certain: admission departments all over the country are actively engaged with the use of technology, yet few have confidence they are fully benefiting from its presence. One crucial perspective, in particular, remains to be fully captured--that of the prospective student. This study explores the technologies experienced by prospective students during the undergraduate recruiting process, as well as the student's perspectives on how influential each of the experiences with various technologies were on their decision to enroll. This study used a convenience sample of freshmen at two large state universities in the Midwest. Data were collected through a primarily quantitative online survey that focused on 10 broad categories of technology: (1) cell phones; (2) text messaging; (3) social media; (4) virtual communities; (5) instant messaging; (6) email; (7) blogs; (8) audio content/podcasts; (9) video content/vodcasts; and (10) school Web sites. These categories were further defined by six potential uses of each technology (notification of critical application information and deadlines, building relationship with admission counselors, notification of acceptance, informational (Q&A), virtual tour of campus, and to find out "what's happening" on the campus). Both the broad categories and specific uses were derived from the existing literature on e-recruiting practices and a recent study looking at technology integration in freshmen recruiting from the perspective of admission offices. (Contains 2 tables and 1 chart.)
Descriptors: Technology Integration, Internet, Technology Uses in Education, Use Studies, College Admission, Student Recruitment, College Freshmen, Mail Surveys, Student Attitudes, Student Characteristics, Performance Technology, Web Sites, Video Technology, Handheld Devices
National Association for College Admission Counseling. 1631 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818. Tel: 800-822-6285; Tel: 703-836-2222; Fax: 703-836-8015; e-mail: info@nacac.com; Web site: http://www.nacacnet.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A